2 weeks in Thailand

I’m lying on my bed in Sinsuvarn hotel in Bangkok. Arrived yesterday from Koh Chang, flying to Hanoi this afternoon to enjoy two weeks in Vietnam before we head back home to our everyday tasks and chores.

I haven’t had much time online. A quick facebook update when in a wifi area, that’s all. Wish I could copy the facebook updates over here, with photos and comments… But. Anyways.

The past two weeks have been lovely. Got to spend some time with my bonus son, his wife and our two little grandsons. Such a treat to create family memories on holiday together, in no one’s home.

Other than beach play, pool dips, ice creams and wonderful meals, we’ve done a bit of colourful clothes shopping, and had three days of snorkling on Koh Kood. We have connected with fellow travellers from Quebec, Switzerland, Mexico and Austria, and with some really wonderful, fun Thai receptionists.

Like Ning at the Nirvana Resort:

Hmmm… I have now spent an hour trying to upload photos of Ning. I give up. The wifi is too slow, and the mobile format of wordpress makes it hard as well.

I think I have to wait until I’m home with photos… or maybe I have another go in Vietnam somewhere.

Anyways. I notice that it is good for me to reduce my internet access to free wifi zones only. A lot less thoughts in my head. Very unwinding. I think I shall try to keep this new habit when I get home.

The kids learn a lot. To deal with strangers approaching them, by giving a short reply in English or Thai. Meeting other kids,playing in spite of language barriers. Tasting new foods, ordering from a menu… The bonds between them strengthening as they help eachother and spend all this time together…

Yawn… Sorry… Bit tired after the long journey yesterday. 10 hours, in various taxis, ferry and buses… Heat is quite extreme, and luggage though not heavy, bothersome…

What have I enjoyed the most in Thailand?

1. The sounds of the jungle and the sea
2. Revisiting our favourite resort Blue Lagoon
3. The tastes and aromas of food and air
4. Oh the heat. To be really warmed up to the core.
5. Seeing my kids very happy together
6. The quality extended family time, bonding closer with my grandkids
7. Bangkok, hustle, bustle, shopping and tuktuk with Pinai
8. The amazing feeling of going into a cool pool when overheated
9. The weird wonderful fruits, and the fruit shakes
10. Learning something new all the time.

When I get my financial side of life together, I will definetely spend more time travelling. Ideally a couple of months every winter, and maybe a six month stretch around Asia…
Kids look forward to going home to their friends now, though. Haha…
I want to visit Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, Myan Mar. Hawaii. San Fransisco maybe. Namibia. Barbados. Indonesia. Melanesia.

Think that’s the most important places for me. For the buddhist atmosphere which I find so peacefully all-embracing… for the healing traditions of f.ex. the big kahunas, their ho’oponopono…
For the Kung! San people of the Kalahari…
I loved my studies in socisl anthropology. Should do my master and go on fieldwork one day maybe…

And now I am here. In two hours they take us to the airport. Four hours flight and we land in Hanoi where we have never been before.

What do I expect?
As little as possible. Expecting positive surprises as I do in general in life. Expecting adventure and challenges we solve. I hope they are friendly and helpful like the Thais. The food is lovely, I have been to Vietnamese restaurants in Norway. I hope they sell clothes similar to here in Bangkok, as I need a new wardrobe! I hope to visit the tailor town Hoi An and be able to get myself a suit handsown!
And with their rugged coastline I expect there will be little beach time and hence a need to go for places with a pool when we look for places to stay…

Yeah. I shall try and write you from Vietnam. Can’t promise photos though. If you befriend me on Facebook, there’s loads of photos there. Only visible to friends. Just send me a message along with the friend request, I accept strangers into my facebook friend circle as long as they are not spambots, and they behave politely.

Let me try to upload a heading image, and go join my gang in the pool outside. Have a happy day out there on this our blue planet.

Pop gan mai!
(=See u later)!

Aha! Managed to upload photo. Let me push my luck and try to give u one more then, here at the end of today’s little story:

Aaaarrrggghhh! No can do. Trying to upload one of all five of us on top of two elephants taken two days ago, but doesn’t seem uploadable. Strange. Maybe rule is different for the “set featured image then, than for inserting into post.
Anyways.
Pop gan mai and mai pen rai (=no problem, never mind).
Wow, it rhymes!!
My first poem in Thai! Yeeaahh!